Lean mean cleaning machine

Posted on 22 Dec 2013 @ 12:01pm by Lieutenant JG Victoria Crawley & Commander Luke Wyatt

989 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: Episode 04 - Exodus
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 4, Science Labs
Timeline: MD 07 - 1210 hrs

[ON]

Luke never had any reason to usually hang around the science labs but a lot of things had changed recently and with the Galileo being primarily a science vessel he was out of luck for company and things to do. Walking down the corridor passing more and more people in teal blue uniforms he spotted the entrance to the science labs which had once been clearly labelled but now read ence La.

Stepping through the lab doors shuffling sidewards so that he could fit his bulky body through. He could only guess the damage done to the doors were apart of the efforts of the Borg invasion parties. Pulling down on his well worn Marine jacket he began looking around, the lab seemed to mostly empty apart from a few people who had also started clearing the lab.

Victoria picked through a pile of broken equipment, trying to find things that were even mildly salvageable. She sighed and looked around the room at all the other officers clearing debris and repairing the consoles. It was a depressing sight, to say the least, seeing the lab in such a state and the crew so tired and worn down. They all looked like they could use a few hours' sleep, something no one could afford at this point; she knew that she could use more than just a few hours. As if to illustrate her point, she yawned. You need to go to bed. Like, yesterday.

Luke had already set himself to the task of lifting larger pieces of debris of from the floor, he made no attempt on conversation with anyone until he unfortunately stumbled back into a solid but unstable mass. Turning he saw that he had almost knocked over another officer. "Sorry" He apologised quickly seeing that she was in mid yawn.

Victoria righted herself and shook her head. "It's my fault," she said with a small smile at the other officer. "I wasn't paying attention."

Luke was about to argue that his was in fact his fault but knew better than to argue. "Hard day eh?" He stopped his own efforts in lifting his price of junk. "Luke Wyatt" he held out his hand smiling dropping his rank and position.

She took the offered hand and smiled a bit wider. "Victoria Crawley, psychologist. I don't think I've seen you around here before."

Shaking slightly more tenderly than usual before breaking hands "Oh yeah, I came from the Venture" He said sadly "But at least the Galileo is still going right?" Luke tried to charm a smile but his lips barely parted.

Victoria nodded in agreement. "I guess so. Let's just hope it stays that way." She looked around the broken room and shook her head at the chaos around them. It was both depressing and encouraging seeing their little ship limping along, broken and badly beaten, but still alive.

The silence lingered for a few more minutes Luke continued to shit bits and pieces "How long have you been on the Galileo?" He asked tackling a tricky bent piece of metal.

Victoria kicked a piece of metal out of the way and examined a piece of twisted equipment. "A few weeks now," she said, nonchalant, but shocked that it had already been so long.

"So you're a veteran then?" he joked hunching the metal into hi shoulder and moving it. "Did you choose this posting?" He continued standing back next to her with his hands on his hips.

She shook her head. "No, I was on the Venture before this, and then I got orders to come here. It was kind of sudden, actually."

"Wow, must be taxing I mean it has been for me, but we got to adapt and overcome right? Besides the Galileo isn't a bad crew and I'm glad I have a chance to get some of our people back!" He said wiping his brow "Though rubble duty isn't my favourite!.

Victoria laughed. "Yeah, not mine, either." SHe picked up a tricorder that had been smashed to bits and made a face. There was no way to save this, she was sure. Actually, very little of what she'd found so far was likely salvageable.

"Damn that thing is screwed" He said looking over her shoulder "I'm starting to wonder how long we can keep going like this? If we dont get the ship repaired soon... well I just hope we do! Fancy a break?" He asked, the salvage operation had been pretty much non-stop and essential to the ship but even that was only a temporary solution.

With a relieved sigh, she nodded. "Please. It's been a long day."

Smiling Luke placed the metal back on the floor and gestured toward the door, prompting for her to lead "Ladies first, I hear the Mess Hall is almost fully operational unless you have somewhere else to kick back?"

Shaking her head and setting down the broken tricorder she was holding, she replied, "I have nowhere I need to be."

Luke squint his eyes and wondered if she didn't understand the question or if he was just being bone idle. "I meant is there anywhere you particularly want to go?"

She could feel her face heat up. "Wow. That was dumb. Um, how about the mess hall? I could use some food. And some coffee." Coffee was a given; she wouldn't be able to function if she spent the whole day making ditzy mistakes like that. I should be asleep. "Sorry, I guess I'm just really tired." She offered him a wry smile.

He shrugged "Hey, maybe you should take a rest? When was the last time you got some proper sleep?" Luke himself was exhausted but he was used to it, usually in a lot worst circumstances but everyone has there threshold.

[TRUNCATED]

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LTJG Victoria Crawley
Psychologist
USS Galileo

GYSGT Luke Wyatt
Marine Liaison
USS Galileo

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